Since its inception in January 2011 the Berkeley County Camber of Commerce’ “Buy Local” promotion has effectively raised awareness of the benefits of buying local. For the past two holiday seasons the Chamber has put its money where its mouth is. Berkeley County residents who spent $300 or more in local businesses could enter a Chamber sponsored drawing for $1,000. Berkeley Chamber’s “Holiday Buy Local” campaign winner for 2012 is Linda Kohl, a nine year resident of Goose Creek.

“I’ve been shopping locally for years, but it wasn’t until the Chamber began running this drawing that I realized the impact of my small decision on the bigger economic health of Berkeley County,” said Ms. Kohl. Berkeley Chamber President Rod Anderson agreed stated that, “The Chamber’s Buy Local program is a great success not only for our business, but our county.”

In fact, since the Chamber initiated the program, the county’s retail sales have increased by 13% from $1.64 billion to $1.85 billion. That shakes down to over $213 million spent in Berkeley County Businesses and an additional 2 million dollars in sales tax revenue for infrastructure such as road improvements.